- The Election Commission has decided to proceed with the show cause notice in the Prohibited Funding case against PTI.
Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday turned down the application moved by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) seeking cross-examination of key witnesses in the foreign funding case.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja announced the verdict reserved last year in December.
The ECP also decided to proceed with the show-cause notice in the foreign funding case.
As the hearing commenced, the chief election commissioner asked about the progress of the case in Islamabad High Court.
On it, Advocate Nadeem Amjad who was representing the PTI said that the IHC had directed the ECP to hear the parties.
At this, CEC Raja observed that the commission was not stopped from taking action.
“Let’s take the case ahead,” said Raja.
The CEC also observed that the six months’ time taken by the PTI for arguments were now over as they sought time to get record from abroad.
The PTI’s lawyer asked the ECP to give two weeks more time.
However, the CEC turned down his plea and put off further hearing till March 28.
The election watchdog had previously issued a show cause to the PTI last year in August as to why the legal notice should not be taken against it for gross financial irregularities.
The PTI instead of responding to the show cause had moved a fresh application seeking cross-examination of key witnesses.
The electoral body turned down the PTI’s plea seeking a cross-examination of the scrutiny committee and the bank officers.
It also dismissed the party’s objections against the show-cause notice of CEC Raja.
The ECP in its ruling last year on August 2 had held that the PTI received prohibited funding. The case previously was referred to as “foreign funding case” but later the ECP accepted the PTI’s plea to refer it as “prohibited funding” case.
In 68-page verdict, the ECP held that the PTI led by Imran Khan got funds from foreign companies and individuals and then concealed them.
It held that 34 individuals and 351 businesses including the companies gave funds to the PTI, ruling that 13 unknown accounts were also found.
The ECP had also decided that the PTI chairperson submitted a false Nomination Form I and that the affidavit provided regarding party accounts was also factually incorrect.
